WSL Football and Nike launch new data-driven era in women's football, powered by Sportable
As part of Nike and WSL Football’s multi-year partnership, Sportable’s Connected Ball and advanced tracking technology will bring unprecedented levels of performance insight and data to women’s football within the matchday and training environment.
The Barclays Women’s Super League is the first football league in the world to use the technology, reinforcing WSL’s Football’s position as a global leader in innovation and reflects Nike’s long-standing commitment to championing athletes and shaping the future of the women’s game.
Sportable’s FIFA certified Connected Ball technology will be integrated into Nike’s Official Matchballs, with player-tracking systems to be deployed in Barclays WSL matches. Additionally, clubs will be given the option to utilise it within training environments meaning that athletes and coaches will have access to more data on every touch, movement, decision, and moment - helping elevate performance, accelerate development, and create a unique foundation to power the future of women’s football.
The system is currently being tested and pending success, Nike, WSL Football, and Sportable will expand the project from the beginning on the 2026-27 system and create a fully connected data ecosystem available for training sessions with athlete and ball-tracking technology operating at every Barclays WSL match, delivering unprecedented continuity in how performance is monitored, understood, and developed across a season.
This unified data ecosystem available across training and competition - including information on ball speed, spin, flight, high-intensity efforts and contextual workload, team shape, tactical patterns and off the ball actions - will give players, coaches, and performance staff the deepest and most comprehensive view of the modern women’s game to date.
Sportable’s Portable LPS tracking product has been officially certified within the FIFA Quality Programme for Electronic Performance & Tracking Systems (EPTS), confirming high-level accuracy and consistency across positional data and further validating its position as a global leader in sports tracking and Connected Ball innovation. This shared commitment to innovation provides athletes and clubs with the tools they need to prepare, compete, and evolve. The initiative also aims to support long-term player development while expanding access to unique performance insights that help drive the standard of women’s football forward.
Across the league, Sportable’s Connected Ball and player-tracking system is already being adopted and used consistently by several Barclays WSL clubs who are actively integrating real-time ball and player insights into both training and match preparation, demonstrating the technology’s immediate value in elite environments. Adoption continues to scale across the league, with additional clubs onboarding ahead of a full, league-wide rollout at matches.
“Nike’snewpartnershipwithusisbuiltoninnovationandputtingplayersfirst,whichwehavealreadyseenwiththerolloutofbootsandglovesforallplayersandgoalkeeperswithoutpersonalendorsementdeals.TheirdesiretoelevatetheroleoftheballthroughSportable’stechnologywillenableustoprovideenhancedperformancedatatoourclubsaswellastellricherstoriestoourfans.Weareexcitedtobethefirstfootballleagueintheworldtousethistechnology.”Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Office, WSL Football
“ItisaprivilegetoworkwithNikeandsupportWSLFootballonaprojectthatwillmeaningfullyimpacttheprogressionofthewomen’sgame.Theopportunitytocreateaconsistent,data-richviewofperformance,fromtrainingpitchestostadiums,istrulygroundbreakingandweareexcitedtohelpunlockthenextlevelofinsightforteamsacrosstheleagueandtheirfansviaanenhanced,data-rich,broadcastexperience.”Dugald Macdonald, CEO, Sportable
Sportable’s technology has already powered breakthrough innovations in American football and rugby union football, working alongside leading global ball brands, leagues, and federations to advance how performance is understood. The company’s Connected Ball and tracking solutions have been used across elite competitions, including a multi-year partnership with Six Nations Rugby, where Sportable’s Smart Rugby Ball provided detailed performance data and insights. The collaboration focused on unlocking deep performance and fan engagement insights, with augmented reality graphics powering on-screen real-time match stats such as kick distance, pass distance, and territory gained, which were presented across broadcast and Six Nations digital channels.
The company’s vision is to make Connected Ball technology part of the fabric of sport at every level. With its patented, portable tracking system, the company can deliver meaningful, real-time insight not only to elite competition, but across the entire team sport pyramid - unlocking new dimensions of understanding, development, and connection for athletes, coaches, and fans.